MPs have called for an investigation on A&E closures across west London to find out if the programme has given value for money.

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas is among the politicians pushing for action from spending watchdog the National Audit Office in light of repercussions on Northwick Park Hospital after the emergency department at Central Middlesex Hospital was shut two years ago.

In total 11 West London MPs signed a letter questioning whether the Shaping a Healthier Future scheme, which also resulted in the closure of Hammersmith Hospital’s A&E, has been beneficial to taxpayers.

Mr Thomas said: "Despite widespread local opposition, the A&E departments at Central Middlesex and Hammersmith Hospital’s were closed in 2014, putting enormous pressure on nearby hospitals.

"At the time, we were told that the closures would mean patients could be better cared for at the A&E’s that remained open, but there was always the suspicion that the programme was driven more by the desire to make financial savings.

"Since then, waiting times at A&E have gone up for many patients, with Northwick Park Hospital having one of the worst records in the country.

"Meanwhile, the government hasn’t been able to tell us whether the programme has actually delivered the savings planned, but we do know that £235 million has been spent on management consultants and a further £1 billion of investment is required.

"Given the disruption these closures caused for residents in North West London, and with more closures planned, it is essential that the full business case is published and that residents can consider whether the Shaping a Healthier Future programme represents value for money."

Shaping a Healthier Future is the NHS programme to reshape hospital and out of hospital health and care services in North West London.

Among other things, a number of changes have been made to the provision of A&E services in North West London as a result of the programme, with the A&E departments at Central Middlesex and Hammersmith Hospital’s closing in September 2014.

Following widespread local opposition to the proposed closure of Ealing Hospital A&E and the downgrading of the A&E department at Charing Cross Hospital, the Independent Healthcare Commission for North West London was set up to examine whether the programme is fit for purpose.

Chaired by Michael Mansfield QC, the Independent Healthcare Commission has raised concerns that a full business plan has not been made publicly available, that the population has grown faster than projected in the models used to design the scheme in 2012 and that it was initially expected to deliver savings of £1 billion, but has now cost more than £235 million and is projected to require a further £1 billion of capital investment.

The letter, which was addressed to auditor general Sir Amyas Morse, states: "It is clear that the closure of these A&E departments had a negative impact on nearby hospitals.

"Waiting times went up significantly, particularly at Northwick Park Hospital which had the worst A&E waiting times record in England in six out of the 15 weeks immediately following the closures, with just 53 per cent of patients seen within four hours in one week, against a target of 95 per cent."